The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-05-26
THE MILLER FARM.


the Public Domain.
In 1878 Guilford Miller settled on one
and sixty acres of land in
Washington Territory, fifty miles from
the line of the Northern Pacific rail-
road. He complied with the law regu-
lating the settlement of the public
lands, and went to work to improve his
homestead.
In 1885, after Miller had occupied
and worked his farm for seven years,
the Northern Pacific railroad set up
claim to it. Miller Indignantly resist
ed the grasp of the big corporation and
the case was appealed to the General
Land Office at Washington. OF course
the Northern Pacific would not have
gone to such trouble merely to get pos
session of Guilford Miller's little one
hundred and sixty acres. But there
are thousands of farmers along the line
of that railroad who settled their lands
just as Guilford Miller settled his. If
Miller could be dislodged all those of
his class would be at the mercy of the
railroad. The case had been hanging
until President Cleveland wrote to Sec
retary Lamar letter declaring that he
thought Guilford Miller was clearly en-
titled to his farm and asking the Secre-
tary to protect him in its possession.
The letter of the President is very
clear and strong in its expressions as
to the proper use of the public domain.
He refers with severe disapprobation
to the withdrawal of millions of acres
of public lands since 1872 from the
operations of the laws of the United
States, and the placing of them be.
yond the reach of citizens who desire
| to settle them. The President alludes
to one of the most fragrant abuses
| which obtained in the Land Office
during Republican rule, when he says
| Under the former orders and action of tht
4 Interior Department tins has been done fol
the benefit Of q railroad corporation having nt
| fixed, certain or definite interests in sucl
| lands. In this manner the beneficent polio!
the public domain have for all these years bee'
thwarted. After the lapse Of seventeen year
| this large body of the public domain is still
held in reserve, to the exclusion of settlers, TO
the convenience Of q corporation beneficiary o
the Government and awaiting its selection
though it is entirely certain that much Of thi
reserved land can never be honestly elaine
by said corporation.
| A much-needed reform in the man
agement and distribution of the publ
lands is promised in these words:
Such condition OF the public lands should n
longer continue. So far as it is the result {
executive rules and methods these should
Abandoned; and SO far as it is q consequence
improvident. laws these should be repealed {
amended.
/ President Cleveland's action in thi
matter will give feeling of security t
thousands of settlers whom the ques
tionable methods of the Land Office a
administered by Republican official
} had greatly alarmed. That Office ha
long stood sorely in need of a cleanin
!: out from top to bottom. The preser
Administration has begun the wor
bravely and has already removed man
abuses. A complete cleaning out I
t the Land Office will yet be accon
} plished. President Cleveland's actio
} in the Miller case shows how watchf
: Democracy is of the rights of the hun
l blest citizen, and how ready it is to el
7 force the laws with the most fearle
honesty.-Atld7stG Constitution.